Rep. Greg Walden’s statement on Hanford Site

Preliminary Rate Decisions for 2018 Health Insurance Plans

1. City of Rufus – Garage/Yard Sale, July 1

The following citizens are participating in the City of Rufus garage sale:

Stephanie Urquhart – 409 Fields St

Sue Jackson – 312 Fields St

Sandy Van Gilder – 501 1st St (J&J Mini Mart) 541-739-2887

Don Arthur – 302 1st St (Blue Shop – Ed’s RV)

Louise Stephens – 317 Murray St

~Aaron Cook, City Recorder – City of Rufus 541-739-2321 rufuscityhall@gmail.com

2. Sherman County Swine 4-H Club Notes

The Sherman County Swine 4-H Club met on June 28 at 6:00pm at the Extension Office. Attending were Samantha, Emma, Allie, Cadence, Natalie, Austin. Pledge of Allegiance led by Austin, 4H Pledge by Natalie. During the meeting we presented presentations, discussed pigs, discussed 4-H camp. We also talked about raffle prizes and buyers gifts. Next meeting is undetermined. Meeting adjourned at 7:00pm. Signed Cadence Smtih, News Reporter

3. Life Jacket Worn, Nobody Mourns

PORTLAND, Ore. — More public recreation fatalities occur in July than any other month, and so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District asks you to please play it safe while on, in, or near the water. Drowning is a leading cause of death this time of year, and most people that drown would have survived if they had worn a life jacket.

Here are some more tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable time this summer. Swimming in open water is different and more difficult than in a swimming pool. You can tire more quickly and get into trouble due to changing conditions, waves, current, lack of experience, or exhaustion. While wearing a life jacket you will not use as much energy, it will help you float, and it will be there when and if you ever really need it.

While on or near the water, watch out for each other at all times. It only takes 20 seconds for a child to drown and 60 seconds for an adult to drown. Several people drown every year within 10 feet of safety because the people around them were not paying attention and did not recognize the signs of drowning: head back, mouth open gasping for air, no yelling or sound, and arms slapping the water like they are trying to climb out of the water. Properly rescuing someone should never include contact with them unless you are a trained lifeguard. Reach out to the victim with something to keep your distance, or throw them something that floats to pull them to safety.

Avoid prolonged breath holding activities and games because it can lead to shallow water blackout. Shallow water blackout can affect anyone who is breath-holding, even physically fit swimmers.

Boaters or those swimming near boats should be aware that carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible, and silent killer. Carbon monoxide can accumulate anywhere in or around your boat. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include eye irritation, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. One breath of carbon monoxide at the water’s surface can cause you to pass out and drown. Avoid areas where exhaust fumes may be present, and do not let anyone swim under or around the boarding platform.

Increased water safety awareness can help ensure that you and your loved ones have fun this summer and return home safely. Always remember to wear a life jacket because it could save your life or the life of someone you love. Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns. Learn more at www.PleaseWearIt.com.

4. ODOT #Eclipse2017 Update: Plan to have fun; plan ahead, so you will

Arrive early, stay put, leave late

Many things will look different on Oregon highways in the days before the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. And it’s not just because things will be dark for a while mid-day.

ODOT is making some significant changes in highway procedures to help you stay safe and reduce congestion during the #Eclipse2017.

How different? Here are a few things the public will see—or not.

Different traffic patterns. Normal travel paths may change. Communities may close streets to through traffic or ban left turns or right turns to keep traffic moving, especially in areas near gatherings with many eclipse visitors. ODOT does not plan to close state highways, but some left turns may be restricted from or to highways.

Work zones. All ODOT construction and non-emergency maintenance in the path of totality will shut down Aug. 18-22. In other parts of the state, work will be curtailed depending on expected eclipse traffic impact. But work zones may still have narrow lanes, sharper curves or grooved pavement: Slow down and pay attention in all work zones, active or not!

www.Tripcheck.com provides you the most current travel information available, using embedded road sensors, other travel data and more than 400 highway cameras. Check up on the traffic on your planned route before leaving home.

Things you can’t see. All over the state, ODOT emergency operation centers will be up and running to help law enforcement, fire fighters and emergency medical providers do their jobs and saves lives.

Moro, OR – The Sherman County Historical Museum’s local Artist Series is featuring Quilting by Terri Bardenhagen for the month of July at the Sherman County Historical Museum. Terri has always sewn, learning from her mother at a very early age on the family farm in Grass Valley, Oregon. Through the years Terri has made a lot of the family’s clothing and other fabric crafts and projects but in 1990 on a whim she signed up for a quilting class at her local fabric shop in Corvallis, Oregon, resulting in a couple quilts and she was hooked!

Loving the idea of hand-sewing a quilt she has made full quilts by hand along with learning a variety of quilting techniques and experimenting with more difficult challenges. Terri enjoys choosing the fabrics, making the blocks and putting them together. She ties quilts and machine quilts. Terri gives away most of her projects to friends and family and enjoys making beautiful gifts that will last. Don’t miss her wonderful display this July at the museum.

After viewing Terri’s quilts in the lobby, also view the museum’s vintage quilts on display for the Quilt and Fiber Show in Moro July 1st – 9th. The Sherman County Historical Museum quilts will be on display for the month of July!

There is no charge for this exhibit on display in the lobby of the museum for the month of July. The award-winning Museum in Moro is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through October. The Sherman County Historical Museum is located at 200 Dewey Street in Moro, Oregon. For more information call 541-565-3232.

6. Rep. Greg Walden’s statement on Hanford Site

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) structural integrity analysis of the Plutonium Uranium Extraction Plant (PUREX) tunnels at the Hanford Site.

“Today’s report is cause for concern and underscores the importance of getting a permanent nuclear waste repository back on track,” said Walden. “Just this week the committee passed bipartisan legislation that would ensure the waste engineered at Hanford is placed safely in a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain. I urge DOE to expeditiously secure and repair the structurally damaged tunnels, and will continue to monitor the situation moving forward.”

For more information on H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act, see https://energycommerce.house.gov/news-center/press-releases/energy-and-commerce-advances-eight-bills

7. Preliminary Rate Decisions for 2018 Health Insurance Plans

Salem — Oregonians can now see the state’s preliminary decisions for rates for 2018 individual and small employer health insurance plans. The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Division of Financial Regulation must review and approve any rates before they can be charged to policyholders.

The preliminary rate decisions are for small businesses and individuals who buy their own coverage rather than getting it through an employer.

In the individual market, the division has issued preliminary decisions for seven companies with average rate changes ranging from a 1.6 percent decrease to a 14.8 percent increase. Under the preliminary decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $355 to $452 a month.

“Although rates are still rising for many consumers, the new Oregon Reinsurance Program provides some stability and relief,” said DCBS Director Patrick Allen. “Without this program, Oregonians who buy their own insurance would be seeing much larger rate increases.”

In the small group market, the division has issued preliminary decisions for nine companies with average rate increases ranging from 3.3 percent to 10.1 percent. Under the preliminary decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $293 to $421 a month.

See the chart at dfr.oregon.gov/healthrates/Documents/2018-pre-prop-rates.pdf for the full list of preliminary decisions.

Reasons for the rate changes include: – The new Oregon Reinsurance Program. This program reduced individual market rates by 6 percent, and added a 1.5 percent increase to the small group market. – Federal weakening of the individual mandate enforcement. – Medical costs continue to rise, driven by increased use and the cost of new specialized prescription drugs. – The cost of providing care continues to surpass premiums collected for many carriers.

Developed by the Governor and stakeholders and recently approved by the Legislature, the Oregon Reinsurance Program is designed to stabilize the individual market, reduce rates, and to encourage insurance companies to offer plans in more parts of the state. Reinsurance is a mechanism to spread the risk of high-cost claims so that no one carrier takes on a disproportionate share of this risk.

Rates are required to reflect the average cost of providing health care to a member in Oregon’s health insurance market. The division has determined that the average cost of paying claims in the individual health insurance market in 2016 was $384 per member per month; in 2015, the average cost of paying claims was $385 per member per month. Health insurance companies are required to justify any differences to this average in their rate filings.

These preliminary decisions will undergo continued review and discussion through public hearings being held in Salem and streamed online July 10-11. The public comment period also will remain open through Tuesday, July 11. There will be a dedicated public comment period during each public rate hearing. For a schedule of hearings and to submit comments online, visit www.oregonhealthrates.org.